Can't believe I'd never eaten here. The space is small but has a great personality. The bar is cute and, on a nice day, the open style wall with tables getting fresh air can't be beat. The old fashioned was top five in the Twin Cities. I look forward to going back sometime. read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Finally got a chance to try sidebar! Every time I've walked by the place has been packed, so this time I made a reservation! My friend and I started out with drinks. I ordered the hot rush (hot toddy style) and my friend got the smash bang boom. Both drinks were amazing! For food we ordered 3 small plates and a dinner plate to share. Our server recommended we start with the charcuterie board and cheese curds then move to the other 2 dishes. The meat and cheese selection was incredible! There were three types of cheese, a locally cured ham, a pork dip, jam, corn nuts, olives, and a delicious mustard. Much bigger than I was expecting and so delicious! The cheese curds were served with a hot honey for dipping. Our second course came out after we indicated to the server we were ready for it (nice touch!) and we ordered a second round of drinks. This time we got the purple haze and sidecar. Our second course was the corn fritters and farro. That farro was everything! It had mushrooms, garlic, egg yolk and pecorino cheese and the flavors were insane! The corn fritters were packed with corn but they were just okay in my opinion. My friend really liked them but definitely weren't the star of the show. I've heard really great things about the burger so I can't wait to go back and try it. The staff was nice and welcoming and there's a convenient parking lot! Thank you! read more

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Wow. This was a new to me spot and it really didn't disappoint. My friend and I went here for a late dinner and drinks at 9pm. You can park on the street or in the lot. We sat at the bar and ordered pasta, French fries and the olives. For drinks we got vera madre and the Osaka sour. We also sipped on casamigos and amaretto. The vibe here is light and fun. There's music playing but not so loud where you can't hear people, and the windows were open for a nice breeze throughout. The fries were the right level of crispy, flavor and potato. The shrimp rigatoni was super flavorful with a spice kick. It was a bit over salted for me, but overall the flavor was great and the shrimp were large. My friends spaghetti alla vodka was fantastic with a lot of great flavor. The drinks were all delicious. They didn't have limoncello or disaronno which was sad, but they did have amaretto to sip as an digestif. Slightly surprising given their liquor store is next door but c'est la vie. I would come back here either way for drinks, lunch or dinner. read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Rigatoni with Shrimp - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great food and ambiance. The server gave great recommendations and also didn't rush us out of the restaurant. Excellent food and drink choices and good range of sizes to accommodate different needs. read more

I love to give great reviews, but can't do that based on my experience at Surdyks today. I had heard so much over the years and decided to check it out. Sat at bar. Service was extremely slow. Bar tender was not focused. I saw others walk out due to poor service. I tried the chicken sandwich. After waiting for a long time, I got one of the most promising worst sandwiches ever. I think the kitchen was in the weeds and had scraps ready that they tried to pass off as a chicken breast. Least amount of chicken I've ever had in a $17 sandwich. It may have been a bad day. I worked in restaurant/bars for years. I get it happens. Hopefully next service and food will be better. read more

I rarely post bad reviews but I feel I need to here. Walked in at 11:00 am today. Promptly ordered, and waited, and waited, and waited. We were the only customers in the place. We could see into the kitchen area and no body seemed to be cooking anything. We sat there for 20 minutes, and no food. I don't think their fryers were up to temp. No one ever stopped by to tell us there was some sort of delay. Doll and I got up and headed to the door, they asked if we wanted our food to go and I said no. I told them that 20 minutes was unacceptable amount of time to wait for a sandwich and a slice of quiche. I was promptly told that 'this was a from scratch restaurant'. Doll and I dine out ALOT, at fine dining locations all around town. We have never had to wait 20 minutes for two simple dishes. read more

Best burger I have ever had in my life!!!!!!!! I've had the burger from all over the twin cities and when I took a bite from Sidebars burger, I was in heaven! The fries were delicious! The lighting and the ambiance is very chill and they also have outdoor sitting which allows for people watching! I would highly recommend this spot! read more

I love their cocktails & appetizers on the outside patio in the summer! The service is typically very friendly and helpful.

Sidebar was a brilliant addition to both Surdyk's and the neighborhood as a whole! It's beautifully decorated and has a perfect indoor/outdoor vibe thanks to the massive garage-door style windows. The service is always professional and excellent. And when you eat/drink here, you really feel like you've found someplace truly special. Want to really impress a date? Bring them to Surdyk's, let them pick out a nice bottle of wine/champagne, then walk into Sidebar and have it with an incredible meal! We love exploring the whole menu, but I especially love the deviled eggs, cheesecurds, lamb tartare, and mac and cheese. read more

Love it. Been to the cheese shop and liquor store many times, but this was my first time at the Sidebar! The service was outstanding! The burger was legit! We started with the burrata, so tasty. My friend got the ceviche. Everything was incredible. The old fashioned was so proper. We finished with the corn cake. Damn. That was delicious!!! Will definitely be back soon! read more

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The service is alone to have us come back. But the burger... girl it's so good it doesn't even need any condiments. That says a lot! The max and cheese was very filling and creamy! I guess my man prefers more cheesy but still Super yummy! And the atmosphere is so relaxing on the patio. Our server was the best! Thank you Sophia! Super accommodating with my mushroom allergy in the most kind way! Keep it up! read more

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Love the vibes here and the drinks and food are amazing. The waiter gave great recommendations. Over all a fantastic experience. read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Southern Nights - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A charming new addition to Surdyk's, I met a friend for Happy Hour at Sidebar and loved their fun atmosphere. Table/booth seating is limited and most of the spots were taken with reservations so, if you're looking to avoid sitting at the bar, snag a reservation in advance. Bar seating was fine and they also had a patio, although I'm not sure I'd want to sit on the sidewalk next to Hennepin Ave with all of the construction happening right now. Bar tender service was friendly, but very slow. Bar tenders also were unaware how to make classic cocktails and, despite supposedly having a full bar, were unable to make of the cocktails we asked for due to lack of ingredients. Seems ironic, considering how they're literally connected to a liquor store. Cocktails were also very pricey, ranging from $12-$18, which seems very steep considering what we got. We didn't order food, but folks around us did and it looked quite Instagram-able in its presentation although I can't vouch for it's taste. Given my experience, I see Sidebar more as a late night, after dinner spot for folks to grab a drink or two before heading home rather than a full fledged bar. read more

Great place to come if you want a fancier dining out experience! I came here for a girls night and it was so fun. In the summer they have an open patio and they open the windows so there's a great breeze that flows through. They have a great selection of drinks, even the nonalcoholic ones. The staff is great , they know the menu well and give good recs. I shared the cheese curds and got the English pea ravioli and it was stellar. Love sidebar! read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - English pea ravioli - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Kinda fell onto this place on a whim but I'm glad we did! Sidebar is a cute and very cozy spot next to Surdyk's store. I knew about this place, but not that much, so I was curious to see what it was like. It did not disappoint!!! I ordered a glass of wine and their mac and cheese (classy I know). Wine was great (no surprise) and their mac was awesome!!! It wasn't too cheesy or heavy, which I was worried about. Sometimes mac and cheese in restaurants can be soooo thick and heavy. But this one was flavorful, and I wouldn't say light but, it was the perfect amount to be filling and not be tooooo full. The noodles were also perfectly al-dente. Our waitress was awesome, super chatty and amiable. She noticed my Florence sweatshirt and we struck up a conversation about Italy and the best places to go. It was fun to share recs and thoughts. The restaurant itself, as mentioned, is really small. So make a reservation!!! It's also pretty spendy. But the quality is worth it so no complaints. It's a great spot for a date night, and that's what most people seemed to be there for (my roommates and I were undoubtedly the odd ones out). Awesome spot, definitely recommend! read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - mac and cheese - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amazing cocktails! This is definitely one of the best cocktail bars in Minneapolis as far as quality of drinks/liquor and skill of bartenders! All of their cocktails are amazing and unique. They also offer great apps in you are hungry. Love the vibe of the place and love Surdyk's in general. Highly recommend! read more

It's my one and only in person restaurant experience since March! They do enforce social distancing but since it's a restaurant there is no way to keep your mask on the whole time. They do enforce a 90 seating since they only have limited capacity and first come first served. The pros: The food was great! The ambiance is great The wine and drinks were yum The cons: You have to walk through a crowded cheese shop to get to it from the main parking lot I would go there again in the future read more

What a wonderful NE spot! The best sandwiches I've had in Minneapolis. I've struggled to find a good croque madame state side, but this was insanely amazing! The staff was beyond nice and people were spaced out very well to feel COVID safe. A must try if your in the area! read more

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Not the greatest food. Server people kind of mean to solo diners. Not want you to talk with neighbors at bar. I buy food at the deli couple of times a week. That food is good. read more

I was so satisfied with my meal here - review #24. They truly have good food and great wine. I had the best clam dish, it was so fresh and juicy. I am still dreaming of that dish and I want to have it again. The fries were very good and perfectly seasoned. The smell from those fries travelled from a 6ft table distant from us so we couldn't resist but to add it to our order as well. The meat and cheese board was beautifully presented and everything paired so well with my wine. I like the option for sidewalk seating and the restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere. I will definitely be back. This place lost a star though because even with restricted 50% occupancy per se, the service was rather slow. It took a while for our drinks to arrive, and then we had to wait quite a while for our food. When my mussels arrived, I wished it was warm and not room temperature. Ironically, they limit 90 mins for each table but in this instance, we are not the one causing the delay. Our entire dining experience took 2.5 hours. We don't go out much since the pandemic so we just took our time as we have nowhere to be at anyway. I sure hope once the occupancy is allowed to increase, they would look at improving their service. Kudos Surdyks for going forward with your plan to expand your business during the pandemic and creating jobs for more. read more

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I have been here several times now and I am absolutely shocked by how many people gave five stars. I've always enjoyed the service, the ambience, and it is nice that they have a parking lot. Cocktails are good, albeit extremely small especially for the price. I would be surprised if the volume was more than 6 ounces for drinks that start at $12. Although they are creative and tasty. Here is the problem: Great base ingredients and extremely poor execution of food, which came in tiny portions, unbalanced, and waaay tooo expensive. The first time here I got the beef tartare...it was one noted. All I tasted was the beef umami- which was great! The ingredients were superb, the meat obviously fresh. And yet, after 3 bites, I was wanting some acid, some fresh crisp green and textural contrast. To give the servers credit, they openly listened to my comments. Then, I came back for the charcuterie (technically and fromage, as charcuterie in French refers only to the meat, but I digress...) for $29. Two meats, 3 1" x 1/2" x maaybe 3" tiny finger sized wedges of cheese. There was some toasted corns, honey and lingonberry mustard as accoutrements. Oh yea. And 2 tiny wedges of watermelon, which were so tiny, I am embarrassed to admit they event mentioned it as part of the plate. These were even smaller than the tiny cheese wedges, and with more rhine. Okay. Fine. Small portions, I've lived in and dined in those overly pretentious places in NYC, Miami, LA and other places where they argue the small portions with higher prices are worth it for the unique and well composed dishes...Surdyk's sidebar is NOT the case. Instead, small portions for high prices and one noted dishes falling flat. The plate came with a bacon that was then pulled and treated as force meat and made into a sort or roulette, and speck. Okay. WHY, if a chef is about to showcase only 2 meats on a charcuterie board (again, prior definitions in this review may be re reviewed) would you not only choose two meats of the same animal, but then, the same part of the same animal, and then take the uniqueness of one of the meats (bacon and its crispy crispy saltiness) and render it more similar to a forced meat cured meat such as ... um... speck? The cheese was good, but begged for a difference on the palette, especially since the meats (charcuterie) were so similar. Again, the cheeses were TERRIFIC. A good sheep's milk softer cheese, and... two other medium/hard white cheeses from Europe that were quite similar. I used the mustard quite liberally to cut through the umami umami umami without an appropriate freshness that fruits usually give. Although, there were several pieces of dark high percentage cocoa chocolate that was nummyyy... Come on, Surdyks Sidebar! You have all of the pieces and yet fail on the food dish execution! In the meantime, come with a small party and chill in the bar for good and creative cocktails. Or go shop the cheeses and meats in the store that is attached. When the Sidebar's food execution equates to the creativity, uniqueness, balance and deliciousness of the cocktails, then it will be a stellar place for quality food as well. read more

Two of us split the meat and cheese board, it was disappointing. Only 4 slices of salami and 3 small pieces of cheese. Lot's of cracker bread. Corn nuts, chocolate and nut brittle seemed very out of place. A friend had the cured salmon, it was one slice of salmon. The others in our party thought the food was fine. read more

Overall I would say this place was pretty awesome. The vibe was upscale and modern. The wait staff was pretty kind and the drinks were good. This is the kind of place you go when you want to dress up with your girlfriends. We shared a bunch of appetizers that we found to be decent. I really liked the cheese curds and the twist they put on them. read more

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Had a great experience here! We went on a Friday night and had to wait about 40 minutes to get a table, but it was well worth it. The space inside is very cozy and would be great for a date spot. They also had outdoor seating available with heaters to keep you warm. Our waitress was FAB. She was so friendly and answered all our questions about the wine. For food, we ordered one of their charcuterie boards. Ours had 5 different kinds of cheeses and it came with a little card to tell us what each cheese was and where it was from. There were also almonds, crackers, and dried fruit spread out on the board as well. I thought it was cool that you could purchase any of the cheeses on the board in the cheese shop next door if you really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Inside - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Popped in here for date night and was blown away! I've only ever come here for cheese, but once we found out Sidebar was here, we had to try it out. It's a cozy spot, very intimate and we enjoyed it very much. The staff were amazingly wonderful and so kind. Our waitress was so pleasant! We shared the fried cheese curds with hot honey and guys...it's SO good. When I say hot honey, you'd be right in assuming it's temperature is hot, but it's also spicy! Like, a spicy honey - what?! But it's SO good. For dinner, I had the roasted duck breast and it was so tender and juicy. I would definitely get this again. Paired with wild rice, mushrooms, and and a cranberry gastrique - it was delightful! The drinks were amazing, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was a vibe. read more

Drinks are pretty consistently good here, food can be hit or miss. The smoked salmon toast, mac and cheese, and cheese curds are my favorite things to get here. Good brunch and dinner spot, would definitely recommend getting reservations for the weekend because the place can get pretty busy. read more

_The Fall from Grace_ As the first cold day of fall appeared without a moments notice, so too did my desire to find comfort in the warmth of a cheese curd. Living near by, I had eagerly awaited the opening of a new restaurant that shut down my favorite deli in the cities for far too long. Walking home one night, I heard the rumblings of people conversating in an area not normally so loud. I turned the corner to see that yes, Sidebar had finally opened, and it was opening night. I sat down and was greeted by my server and the owner, a Surdyk in the flesh. I was impressed by their hospitality and kindness. I ordered the cheese curds, steak frites (medium-rare), and a few different cocktails throughout the night. I was impressed by the cocktails and the steak. As both were flavorful and exactly as advertised. The steak was cooked perfectly, and came with a medley of sauces to dip both meat and fries into for an additional punch of flavor. However, the star of the show was the Cheese Curds. They were perfectly warm, sweet, crispy, and even had a pinch of spice on them to keep us Minnesotans on our toes. I was happy. Fast forward 3 weeks, my companion and I sat down to relive the experience once more, and we were salivating at the thought of our taste-buds dancing across the room like they had before on that fateful, fall night. Unfortunately for us, that was not in the cards. The cheese curds came in a giant cheese ball, the cheese had escaped its outer shell only to form with itself, making them borderline inedible. The steak was cooked medium well - well done, instead of the medium rare requested. On top of that, the kitchen decided in the course of 3 weeks that they would no longer split the steak between 2 plates like they had done before in the past. It was bland, flavorless, and no longer came with the sauces drizzled on it like it had in our previous encounter. My only conclusion that I can draw from this second experience is the classic new restaurant bait and switch. They started off strong, with solid attention to detail and compassion for customers, then morphed into the opposite after a few weeks of success. Either the original staff was unhappy and left very quickly, or they lost all their passion and desire to serve the community the way it deserves for the prices they charge. No longer was I at Surdyks Sidebar, I was transported to my new, local Applebees. read more

You may not want to come here unless you are a regular or know the bartender. Came here for the first time last night and sat at the bar. We ordered and a couple came in 5 minutes after us and also sat at the bar. Bartender started talking to them for a bit and they ordered their drinks. One of them ordered the EXACT same drink as us, an old fashioned and the bartender gets their drinks before us. My husband made a comment how it wasn't cool they were served before us when we were there and ordered well before them and the bartender just gives a sarcastic "sorry" and shrugs his shoulders. Guess we won't be back when we are treated like that. I understand hooking up your friends but it was so obvious how much longer we were waiting and then to order the same drink and they get it before us? It was seriously not cool. We paid our tab and left after the drink, which was a bummer because I did really like my martini. Oh well, there are plenty of other bars in the area that treat people fairly. read more

Go for the drinks and the snacks, entrees left a bit to be desired. The tartare is a must order! Things I would skip are the radicchio salad was not well dressed, the duck was over cooked, and special (branzino) was one dimensional read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Stopped by Sidebar for happy hour with a friend. Interesting drinks and small plate options. I got the rosemary vodka cocktail and my friend got the rosé. Drinks were pretty small for the price ($12) but they were tasty. We split a niçois aioli plate and the bread. Both were really good. Overall, a little overpriced but the fun environment made up for it. I really appreciated that they had their garage doors open for indoor seating so it was very much an open air experience even if you're seated inside. read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Niçois Aïoli Plate - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I am so sorry to have to give a low review here because I love Surdyk's products and catering. But three of us ate at Sidebar for a birthday dinner this week: one had to select her second choice for a cocktail off the menu because the first wasn't available. Worse, they ordered salads and not only did they not finish them but did not want boxes to bring leftovers home (these are frugal singles who wouldn't waste food generally). I had a hamburger and it was fine but unexceptional. The restaurant was surprisingly quiet for a summer night - I wonder if others are disappointed by the food? read more

On an ALMOST nice late-afternoon, we strolled in and got a table outside. It was a Saturday, so little traffic and noise. It was perfect. Starting with the drinks: dinner mate had the Manhattan. Perfectly Delicious. I got an elderberry vodka specialty. Extremely good.... had to slow down- as it was about 3 big sips (pro-tip... ask for extra water!!) The food- my GF dinner mate got the nicoise plate. Very good. The aioli... OMG... Dreaming about it!! The rest of us had the cheese board and salumi board. Wow! Delicious! THAT will make me go back! The cheeses were amazing, the fruits and nuts... yum! The salamis, prosciutto and pate were outstanding, honestly fantastic. As we glanced around.. the food coming out looked tasty and inviting! I think this is a keeper in my list of places I need to go! 5 stars? Yep! It's honestly as good as it gets! read more

Holy moly what terrible food. Is there a good dish somewhere in the menu? Maybe, but we got 4 items and all were quite bad. Wantons were rubbery and undercooked in places but overcooked in others and falling apart. Not made fresh; clearly frozen dough. Terrible The fries are just boring and bland. Again, at this price point put in some razzle and dazzle not minimal effort. Clams were rubbery and the sauce tasted like it was made from bitter grass; basically green thai curry paste made to be bitter somehow. Nicoise plate was so pitiful. It was half a plate of canned veggies. Other half was undercooked potatoes and dry salmon. String beans tips were not removed; shows lack of attention to detail. The string beans tips seems silly but it is a big deal. The price they want to charge carries with the responsibility to present food aesthetically and functionally. It was neither, those tips are inedible and make you choke. My impression of this place is an attempt to imitate fine dining experience without the culinary backing. The "chef" doesn't appear to have a good sense of taste for the dishes or is being told what to do because no shef would put out food this terrible especially for the prices they charge prices. Overall feels like they are copying from cooking shows and apparently not having a good sense of what dishes should taste like. read more

I am beyond thrilled this restaurant is here! The patio is great and the indoor space may be even better. It's a neighborhood restaurant that the neighborhood needs so badly! Our server was lovely as well as the other staff who connected with us throughout the night. My high high complements to the chef because the halibut was the most innovative piece of fish I have had in Minneapolis in a long time. Halibut isn't the tastiest fish out there but this dish was fabulous! I tasted my hubby's French fries and they were really good! read more

We have been planning for weeks to come here, waited an hour to get a table. The server, wine list and drinks are good but the food was totally disappointing. Sub-par ingredients with little attention to taste and plating. Get a real chef for a place like this. It's embarassing! Also the hostess was condescending and rude, i guess they want this place to be a white-only establishment. read more

Surdyk's Sidebar - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Great experience all around! While most restaurants that have instituted a reservation time limit only allow 90 minutes, Sidebar allows two hours. While that's usually plenty of time for drinks and dinner, we were having such a great time, we stayed almost until close. The staff was great about moving us over to the bar when our time was up. Our server, Jade, was fantastic! She was friendly, welcoming, and very pleasant. She even continued to keep an eye on us even after we moved to the bar. Not that it was necessary, both bartenders were also great- engaging and attentive. The charcuterie board is perfect for sharing and nibbling while enjoying cocktails and conversation. read more

It says they do takeout on Google maps but they wouldn't let us when we got there so might want to fix that.

Drinks: actually spectacular. Really enjoyed the two cocktails I tried. Rarely are cocktails these days worth the $10 to $15 they cost, but these got close. Food: portions were small for the price. But no complaints about the food we ate. All the snacks were tasty. Service: our server was kind and helpful! Atmosphere: it was a little loud and cramped. The group next to us were yelling to hear each other as were we. When we requested to move I feel we ruined the day of the employee who helped us (sorry!) All in all I'm just not sure it was worth it for us. The group of 6 next to us went there to have a drink, a snack, and have a really fun time! That feels like the ideal night for this place. read more

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Cocktails: 4 stars Ambience: 5 stars Food: 2 stars The stars are exclusively for the cocktails and the ambience. Despite it being attached to an upscale liquor/ grocery store, the ambience of this place is so nice! It could be a speakeasy if it was underneath the grocery store with a hidden door. I love the decor. The cocktails are unique and delicious. We have been here about three times now. I have had their version of a gin and tonic which is great and simple. I have also had the cosmo-naut which is an upscaled version of a cosmo. I husband enjoys the whiskey based cocktails or any cocktail with an egg because it gives a great creaminess. The staff here are friendly and really help guide you based on your taste. We will definitely be back for cocktails and maybe some snacks. We have had dinner here once, and I will say that is where it was a let down. The appetizers were good - we got the cheese curds and fried pickles (a lot of fried food). They both were good but nothing that stood out. The main meals were the risotto and burrata salad which was a huge letdown. The risotto was not very good at all from a even a risotto texture. So that's why the stars are for the cocktails and not the food. The food would get two stars. Last note, this place is small, so I would definitely make reservations if you would like to sit indoors. The outdoor seating is first come first serve. read more

Amazing experience and excited to see this finally open! We had the croque madame, cheese curds, old fashion all were well executed, flavorful and the staff nailed it! We will definitely be back on the regular ! read more